0214. Grace Bestowing

Grace Bestowing

"Now when Mephibosheth * * was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

"And David said unto him, Fear not * * I will restore thee all * * thou shalt eat bread at my table continually" (2Sa_9:6-7).

How precious is this scene.

1. The picture of Mephibosheth’s appreciation. Jonathan’s son came with no sounding of trumpets, as though he had accomplished some worthy feat. He came in humility, confessing his own worthlessness. He said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?"

Grace excludes boasting, because grace is bestowed where there is no worth. The sinner cannot begin to recount before God his merits. There is no merit. The sinner deserves nothing but the house of Machir, nothing but Lo-debar. The sinner deserves no more than judgment and eternal death.

The sinner will not so much as lift up his face, but beating upon his breast he says: "God be merciful unto me the sinner."

2. The picture of David’s kindness. To David and to him alone belongs the praise of lifting up Mephibosheth. It was not David and Mephibosheth, but David alone.

The sinner gives all glory to God. Grace does it all and therefore deserves all the praise.

Consider the results of David’s kindness. He restored to Mephibosheth all he had lost, and besides all of that, he gave him place at his own table continually.

Such kindness bespeaks the gifts of God. We receive back all we lost in Adam, and besides we receive much more, because we are made to sit with Him in the Heavenlies forevermore. Grace gives to us all that belongs to the Giver of grace. "Father, I will that they may be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glories." This is good, but this is not all. "And the glory that Thou hast given Me I have given to them."

To the elder son the father said, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine."

Thank God, for the bestowals of grace. And what will it be in the by and by? For in the ages to come, God will reveal unto us "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR